Balance for beginners

Wednesday

As promised, I will be going over some things you can do to improve your balance and begin fully utilizing the muscles you already have.

This post will outline the basics.

If your idea of balancing is trying to stack snacks in one hand while holding a soda in the other, then this post will be perfect for you. If you’re more advanced, maybe you can still benefit from a refresher course. Stay tuned for the next two posts which will give increasingly challenging balance moves.

If you haven’t read my previous post, perhaps now would be a good time to do so. In it I discussed our Yardley Fitness focus on balance in all fitness routines. Go on, read it first, I’ll wait…

…

…

O.K., back already? Now that we’re on the same page, or website as the case may be, on we go.

Balance relies on flexibility, toned muscles, and mental focus. Balance requires using different parts of your body to work together. Without working to improve your flexibility, you will be putting yourself at a severe disadvantage. Think of each muscle’s range of motion as a piece of wood that you’re standing on. The bigger the range of motion, the wider the piece of wood. The wider the piece of wood is that you’re “standing on,” the easier it is to keep your balance with that muscle.

I briefly went over quick and easy stretches in my post Workouts at Work, and my more advanced readers already probably know how to stretch. The hard part is getting yourself to actually do some stretches every single day.

The following are some simple ways to incorporate balance into your life:

• Make Any Time Flamingo Time! – Whether you’re cooking, brushing your teeth, standing in line, or watching TV, balance is only ever one foot away. Lift up a foot, being mindful not to completely lock the knee of the leg you’re still standing on. Your knee needs a little give so that it can help make adjustments. Don’t overthink this move, just do it again and again whenever you have the opportunity. Make sure you do both legs a roughly equal number of times. Part of what balance exercises help to accomplish is to even up the strength of both sides of your body.

• Sway Side To Side – For this move you don’t even have to lift up a foot, how easy is that?! Simply place your feet a bit wider than shoulder width apart and sway your hips from side to side. Again, don’t overthink this one. It’s just meant to give you a better sense of your center of gravity. Move your hips each way until you feel your weight resting comfortably over each foot in turn. This exercise will tone your legs and loosen up your hips.

• Weeble Wobble – This exercise is also simple, but might be best done in private if you get embarrassed easily. With a relaxed stance, bend forward and backward at your hips. Keep your back fairly straight the whole time, although it’s not the end of the world if you bend it a little. Do this move slowly and smoothly, and pay attention to your feet. As you do your bows and lean backs, note how you have to adjust your balance so that you don’t tilt up onto your toes or heels.

Get to it people. Join the Yardley Fitness family and make balance a focus of your life from now on. Remember, more difficult balance challenges are coming in the next two posts. Stay tuned and get inspired!

Albert Einstein once said “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” Each Monday and Wednesday, David and Catherine Colello, your friendly neighborhood trainers at Yardley Fitness, will show us how by exploring ways that different types of people can take control of their health. They can be reached at info@yardleyfitness.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Follow Us

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Bucks County Courier Times ~ 8400 N. Bristol Pk, Levittown, PA 19057 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service